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When Ordinary People Became Heroes
Michael Sweeney, Planning Director
City of Lawrence

The recent floods in Lawrence produced a turning point in the city’s history. Effective leadership and dedicated service by many individuals working as a team helped to lead to a quick recovery.

This started with the residents of Law-rence and the man they choose to lead them, Mayor Michael J. Sullivan. The residents of Lawrence were simply outstanding. People worked together, followed the directives of officials, maintained the peace, and allowed the focus to be on disaster relief.

Mayor Sullivan provided the leadership, making sure that his department heads were focused on the issues at hand and were very clear that flood related matters would receive top priority. Mayor Sullivan charged us with working together and tried to get us to think out of the box to remain a step ahead of developing issues.

Fire Chief Takvorian did an outstanding job as the Incident Commander during the entire situation. His direction and experience provided a framework within which depart-ment heads could operate. Police Chief Romero and the men and women who work for him did an outstanding job. I cannot say enough about the leadership and experience brought to the table by Police Captain Plourde. He was simply on point at every moment.

Fire Captains Loughlin and Loffredo, as well as Fire Deputy Murphy, constantly provided professionalism to the effort. The training and expertise these men brought to the table turned the situation around quickly.

Nothing exceeds the work performed by Caroline Ganley and the men and women who work in her department. They worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the flood getting homes and businesses inspected for safety and to have electrical power turned back on. Inspectors Peter Blanchette, Greg Arvanitis, Paul Kuchar and many others worked around the clock to ensure that families had a safe home or apartment to enter back into. Board of Health member Peg Burton and Ms. Ganley kept us mindful of the public health issues that could emerge and as a result the city was able to stay a step ahead.

It seemed everywhere you looked the men who work for Frank McCann in DPW were solving another problem. The men who work for DPW put in countless hours dealing with the flood situation.

I have to give special recognition to Frank Bonet, the Personnel Director for Lawrence.

Mr. Bonet performed miracles in handling the situation at the shelter set up in Methuen for people who were left homeless by the floodwaters. Over three days, Mr. Bonet found apartments and living space for over 60 people. He worked tirelessly in matching families with an appropriate living arrangement.

Mayor Sullivan, Mayor Manzi, Chief Solomon and State Representative William Lantigua performed as true leaders. When the situation at the shelter was spinning out of control, they stepped up to give people the needed assurances that the shelter would not be closed until every person was cared for.

Working together, they were able to stop a large non-profit agency in its tracks when that agency was going to commit a human rights violation by kicking people out of the shelter without secure living arrangements.

Harold Magoon and Domingo Melendez showed what community spirit is all about as they worked endless hours helping people and getting the word out about important information.

At the state level, Governor Romney and Lt. Governor Healey promised support and they delivered. Lawrence received help from the Mass Highway Division, Department of Environmental Protection and of course from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

The director of MEMA, Cristine McCombs, and Graham Campbell did a great job in establishing the MEMA center at the Lawrence Library. In every instance, communication from our state partners was outstanding.

Superintendent Laboy and the entire central office pitched in to deal not only with school issues, but with whatever assistance the city needed.

Maureen Nimmo immediately agreed to allow us to take over the first floor of the library to allow MEMA and FEMA to establish a base of operations. So many people were thinking of the city and our residents first.

You might see on TV or hear on the radio from a big non-profit — that allegedly specializes in disaster relief — seeking donations. For my money, the place you should send a check to is the Salvation Army.

Without the hype and drama put forth by that other “international” agency, Major Deming and the good people at the Salvation Army simply got the job done.

Lastly, the one thing I will never forget is Scott Clugg and Tom Duggan, yes that Tom Duggan, pulling up to my office door at 11 p.m. in a truck loaded with donated clothes and shoes that they drove all day and night from Connecticut to bring back immediately for the people of Lawrence and North Andover. For two weeks, ordinary people showed themselves as heroes.

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The June, 2006 Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly Publication.
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Prior Columns by Mike Sweeney